Soccer Football - Championship - Sheffield United vs Queens Park Rangers - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - February 20, 2018 Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder applauds the fans at the end of the match Action Images/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez gestures to the fans during the match against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup, Fifth Round soccer match at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. Mahrez returned to Leicester’s starting lineup Friday and helped the team reach the FA Cup quarterfinals, starting for the first time since the collapse of his move to Manchester City last month. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez gestures to the fans during the match against Sheffield United during the English FA Cup, Fifth Round soccer match at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, Friday Feb. 16, 2018. Mahrez returned to Leicester’s starting lineup Friday and helped the team reach the FA Cup quarterfinals, starting for the first time since the collapse of his move to Manchester City last month. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

For Riyad Mahrez there was forgiveness, for Leicester City satisfaction and for Jamie Vardy a moment of schoolboy delight as he ended Sheffield United’s FA Cup hopes. Vardy, a boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan, booked Leicester’s place in the quarter-finals with a second-half header that ended the hopes of Wednesday’s city rivals. And Mahrez negotiated a potentially tricky return to the King Power Stadium after his 10-day stand-off with the club with relative ease, receiving widespread cheers and laying on Vardy’s goal. The Algerian, making his first home appearance since skipping training in response to Manchester City’s failed transfer bids, received a handful of boos but more cheers. And his neat footwork, fine cross for Vardy’s goal and applause when he was replaced, signalled a general forgiveness for his apparent petulance. It was a slow start from both sides but the away side threatened first in the ninth minute when James Wilson galloped down their left flank. Danny Simpson gave the United player enough room to shoot but his low effort was held low down by Kasper Schmeichel. Leicester then began to dominate, however, with Demarai Gray especially prominent as they put their Championship opponents under pressure, creating chances for himself and Vardy. The hosts had two chances in quick succession as they exploited space on the visitors’ right wing. But the first shot from Vardy took a big deflection for a corner that was dealt with easily and the second, from Gray, flew harmlessly over the crossbar. There was little let-up from the hosts, who called visiting goalkeeper Jamal Blackman into his first save on 22 minutes. He dived to his left to push away a long-range shot from Wilfred Ndidi, who had been given space to compose himself on the edge of the penalty area. Riyad Mahrez applauds home fans at the final whistle Credit: AFP A surging run from left-back by Ben Chilwell brought the next Leicester chance as he found himself on the edge of the area, from where he fed Kelechi Iheanacho. But the summer signing had his shot blocked inside the 18-yard box. The pressure on the United goal had been unrelenting yet they might have taken the lead on 32 minutes when a cross from the right ricocheted dangerously around the Leicester penalty area. It dropped for Enda Stevens but his shot was blocked superbly by the sprawling Harry Maguire. Leicester were soon back in the hunt for the opener with the previously quiet Mahrez showing flickers of his talent. He saw one weaving run come to nothing before producing a superb pass to set Vardy free but the striker’s shot was saved well by Blackman. Another powerful run took Chilwell towards the byline again and his accurate cross found Gray at the near post. But the ball sat up awkwardly and Gray’s effort from close range went narrowly wide. After a slower start to the second period, Leicester gradually regained their earlier initiative with Mahrez’s neat, one-touch play at the heart of their best moments. The first effort at goal after the break came after 57 minutes when Ndidi saw a chance to test Blackman from distance, only for his effort to soar over the crossbar. Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder's team failed to find an equaliser Credit: Getty Images A neat spell of passing from Puel’s team then allowed Vardy to drive into the penalty area but his low cross-shot was cleared. Mahrez had switched briefly to a central role but his return to the right flank allowed him to race onto a deft pass from Gray and advance into the visitors’ penalty area, only for the ball to escape his control. It was little surprise, however, when Mahrez had a key hand in the opening goal on 67 minutes. His close control proved too good for United, who could not stop him working the ball to his left foot. His cross beyond the far post allowed Vardy to peel away into space and guide a looping header over Blackman and into the net. Leicester almost doubled their lead when Gray curled a clever shot towards goal, forcing Blackman into a good save. But moments later it should have been 1-1 as a cross sat up for George Baldock, whose crisp shot appeared destined for the bottom corner, only for Schmeichel to pull off a crucial save with an outstretched left hand. Match details Leicester City (4-2-3-1) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Ndidi, Iborra; Mahrez (James 90), Iheanacho, Gray; Vardy (Albrighton 84). Subs Hamer, Silva, Dragovic, Fuchs, Diabate. Sheffield Utd (3-5-2) Blackman; Basham, Wright (Evans 76), O’Connell; Baldock, Lafferty, Carruthers (Duffy 76), Lundstram, Stevens; Wilson (Brooks 45), Donaldson. Subs Eastwood, Sharp, Stearman, Heneghan. Referee Lee Mason.

For Riyad Mahrez there was forgiveness, for Leicester City satisfaction and for Jamie Vardy a moment of schoolboy delight as he ended Sheffield United’s FA Cup hopes. Vardy, a boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan, booked Leicester’s place in the quarter-finals with a second-half header that ended the hopes of Wednesday’s city rivals. And Mahrez negotiated a potentially tricky return to the King Power Stadium after his 10-day stand-off with the club with relative ease, receiving widespread cheers and laying on Vardy’s goal. The Algerian, making his first home appearance since skipping training in response to Manchester City’s failed transfer bids, received a handful of boos but more cheers. And his neat footwork, fine cross for Vardy’s goal and applause when he was replaced, signalled a general forgiveness for his apparent petulance. It was a slow start from both sides but the away side threatened first in the ninth minute when James Wilson galloped down their left flank. Danny Simpson gave the United player enough room to shoot but his low effort was held low down by Kasper Schmeichel. Leicester then began to dominate, however, with Demarai Gray especially prominent as they put their Championship opponents under pressure, creating chances for himself and Vardy. The hosts had two chances in quick succession as they exploited space on the visitors’ right wing. But the first shot from Vardy took a big deflection for a corner that was dealt with easily and the second, from Gray, flew harmlessly over the crossbar. There was little let-up from the hosts, who called visiting goalkeeper Jamal Blackman into his first save on 22 minutes. He dived to his left to push away a long-range shot from Wilfred Ndidi, who had been given space to compose himself on the edge of the penalty area. Riyad Mahrez applauds home fans at the final whistle Credit: AFP A surging run from left-back by Ben Chilwell brought the next Leicester chance as he found himself on the edge of the area, from where he fed Kelechi Iheanacho. But the summer signing had his shot blocked inside the 18-yard box. The pressure on the United goal had been unrelenting yet they might have taken the lead on 32 minutes when a cross from the right ricocheted dangerously around the Leicester penalty area. It dropped for Enda Stevens but his shot was blocked superbly by the sprawling Harry Maguire. Leicester were soon back in the hunt for the opener with the previously quiet Mahrez showing flickers of his talent. He saw one weaving run come to nothing before producing a superb pass to set Vardy free but the striker’s shot was saved well by Blackman. Another powerful run took Chilwell towards the byline again and his accurate cross found Gray at the near post. But the ball sat up awkwardly and Gray’s effort from close range went narrowly wide. After a slower start to the second period, Leicester gradually regained their earlier initiative with Mahrez’s neat, one-touch play at the heart of their best moments. The first effort at goal after the break came after 57 minutes when Ndidi saw a chance to test Blackman from distance, only for his effort to soar over the crossbar. Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder's team failed to find an equaliser Credit: Getty Images A neat spell of passing from Puel’s team then allowed Vardy to drive into the penalty area but his low cross-shot was cleared. Mahrez had switched briefly to a central role but his return to the right flank allowed him to race onto a deft pass from Gray and advance into the visitors’ penalty area, only for the ball to escape his control. It was little surprise, however, when Mahrez had a key hand in the opening goal on 67 minutes. His close control proved too good for United, who could not stop him working the ball to his left foot. His cross beyond the far post allowed Vardy to peel away into space and guide a looping header over Blackman and into the net. Leicester almost doubled their lead when Gray curled a clever shot towards goal, forcing Blackman into a good save. But moments later it should have been 1-1 as a cross sat up for George Baldock, whose crisp shot appeared destined for the bottom corner, only for Schmeichel to pull off a crucial save with an outstretched left hand. Match details Leicester City (4-2-3-1) Schmeichel; Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Ndidi, Iborra; Mahrez (James 90), Iheanacho, Gray; Vardy (Albrighton 84). Subs Hamer, Silva, Dragovic, Fuchs, Diabate. Sheffield Utd (3-5-2) Blackman; Basham, Wright (Evans 76), O’Connell; Baldock, Lafferty, Carruthers (Duffy 76), Lundstram, Stevens; Wilson (Brooks 45), Donaldson. Subs Eastwood, Sharp, Stearman, Heneghan. Referee Lee Mason.